INEC Extends Candidate Submission Deadline for 2027 Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the lists of their governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates for the 2027 General Election.

The submission deadline, which was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, August 8, 2026, has now been moved to Tuesday, August 11.

INEC announced the extension in a statement signed on Saturday by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.

The Commission said the decision followed appeals from political parties for additional time to complete the uploading of their candidates’ details on the dedicated portal.

The extension comes as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 elections, with the nomination and submission of candidates forming a key part of the electoral timetable.

Meanwhile, INEC has announced the suspension of the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The Commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVCs have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.

According to INEC, the deadline is necessary to enable it compile the data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the total number of PVCs collected ahead of the election.

The Commission had earlier commenced PVC collection at the Registration Area level across Osun State from July 22 to 28.

However, following complaints over large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres, the exercise was extended to July 31 before moving to the local government level from August 1 to 7.

INEC also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas after hoodlums invaded two collection centres and carted away voters’ cards.

The Commission, however, assured affected voters that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.

INEC said it remained committed to ensuring that all eligible voters affected by the incidents were not disenfranchised ahead of the election.

The electoral body also assured the people of Osun State of its preparedness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on August 15.

The election is expected to be closely watched as the participating political parties intensify their final campaigns and mobilisation ahead of the poll.